Philips VOIP841 PC-Free DECT 6.0 Wireless IP Phone
by Philips Accessories
Our Price: $499.99
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $123.99 (click here)
Category: CE
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Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: Philips AccessoriesModel: VOIP8411B/37
Product features:
- Full-color display and 4-way directional pad makes navigation simple
- Phone has up to 12 hours of talk time and 120 hours of standby on single charge
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Philips VOIP841 PC-Free DECT 6.0 Wireless IP Phone
Customer Review: Must-have addition to Skype!
Summary: 5 Stars
I am currently living out of the country for medical school, so I use Skype on a daily basis to contact friends and family in the US. For the past year, I've been having attached to my computer anytime I wanted to use the phone, which also meant missing calls if I was in another room or had the computer turned off. However, this phone has made me love Skype again!
Setup:
Could not be easier! Plug in the base station, attach the included ethernet cable to your router, and let the handset charge for a little while. When you turn the handset on, enter your language, area code, skype name, and password. That's it! Within seconds, your voicemails and Skype contacts are downloaded to the phone. If you can figure out a basic cell phone, you can figure out this phone with no problem. There are a few basic options, one of which allows you to set whether it asks, every time you dial a number, if you would like to use SkypeOut or landline, or automatically default to one or the other.
Call Quality:
I have been very impressed with the quality. I'd say it ranges from decent cell phone quality, to slightly better. As I do not have a landline here, I can only judge the quality of SkypeOut calls. My apartment is not very large, but the range easily extends from front to back, with two doors closed in between rooms. The range is better than what I've experienced with other cordless phones in the past, and I haven't noticed any degradation in quality as I move away from the base. I have been told that it sounds much better than when I am speaking through the computer.
Phone:
I find the phone comfortable to hold, although it's too small to rest between your shoulder and ear. It is very attractive and feels durable, if a bit plasticy. The display is bright and easy to read. When idle, it displays your username, status, time/date, and remaining SkypeOut credit. Like I said, the menu system works very similar to a cell phone. The earpiece volume is not particularly loud, but definitely adequate. The speaker volume can be very loud, and remains clear at higher volumes. I haven't really tested the battery, but after having it off the cradle for a while and talking on the phone for about an hour or so, it still shows a full charge.
Problems:
Very few, and not bad enough to affect my rating. It came with a card for 120 SkypeOut minutes, but when I tried to enter the code online, it said that the code had already been used. I'm still waiting for a response from Skype about that. The ring tones leave something to be desired, although they are, fortunately, very loud (if you set them to be). Very rarely, it will drop a call for no apparent reason. However, this could be related to my less than ideal internet connection. Strangely, if I have Skype running on the computer but answer an incoming call on the handset, the computer continues to ring, despite the incoming call pop-up notification disappearing. I have to quit Skype to stop the ringing. I'm still trying to figure out how to remedy that problem.
Edit: After using this for a few months now, I'm just as happy as I was initially. Also, a few problems listed above have been corrected. The dropped calls were, in fact, due to a poor internet connection. Ever since that was fixed, I haven't lost any calls. Also, Skype put out a new mac version of their software since I wrote this review, and that update fixed the problem with the computer continuing to ring after I answer the handset.
Description of Philips VOIP841 PC-Free DECT 6.0 Wireless IP Phone
The compact package and sleek, black look belie the depth of capability of Philips VOIP8411B/37 DECT cordless phone. This is the first such phone that works without you having to boot up your PC, offering amazing flexibility and independence from the PC. A color display and exquisite clarity will make this the only phone you want to use.Amazon.com Product Description
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 Use the VOIP841 to make free Skype calls to anywhere in the world without a computer. View larger. |
The Philips VOIP841 is a self-contained unit that requires no installation of software or connection to a computer; simply plug the base into any power outlet in your house, connect it to your broadband connection, and you can start making free Skype telephone calls right away. (To make Skype calls, you must open a Skype account. A Skype account is not included with this phone.)
And by simply plugging your home telephone line into the VOIP841, this phone can double as your everyday landline, giving you the ultimate in convenience.
Easy to Use
If you've used a cell phone or cordless phone, you'll quickly be able to take advantage of all the features the VOIP841 offers. For easy readability, the phone features a 128x128 full-color display, and a 4-way directional pad provides you with easy navigation through the intuitive interface. The handset has enough memory for up to 500 Skype phonebook entries, giving you quick access to your contact list.
You can choose from up to 15 ring tones (5 standard, 10 polyphonic), and the phone allows you to set your ring tone by call type, distinguishing between landline and Internet calls. A speakerphone mode allows for hands-free operation, so you can take notes during the call or share the call with others. There is also a jack connector on the handset for connecting a headset.
DECT Frequency for Security and Extended Battery Life
By using the Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) frequency at 1.8GHz, the VOIP841 offers you enhanced security features and a longer battery life than other frequencies. On battery power, the VOIP841 offers talk time of up to 12 hours and a standby time of up to 120 hours.
Each base station can accommodate up to four handsets, and up to four base stations can be used together for a total of 16 handsets. For office or home use, the intercom mode allows you to use one handset to call another handset located in a different room.